What a difference strings make.

mudpuppy

mudpuppy

New member
I just bought a new Epi Dot the other day. If felt and sounded pretty good in the music store, but when I got it home and was comparing it to some of my other axes, I admit that I might have been feeling a little bit of buyers remorse. I had planned on waiting a while before changing stings, but decided to put on the D'Addario ECG24s (light jazz chromes) that I like. OMG, what an improvement. I swear these strings are magic. They're a little pricey at $19 - $20 retail, but worth every penny. I'm now using these strings on every electric guitar I own.

I would be interested if anyone else has had similar experience with finding a really great string set that gives the tone that you seek.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

Absolutely, with every guitar I've ever had. Not all of them use the same gauge, though.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

JB_From_Hell said:
Absolutely, with every guitar I've ever had. Not all of them use the same gauge, though.
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Since I pretty much stick to a 24 3/4" scale, the same gauge seems to work for me. If I was looking a Fender scale length, I might consider going to something lighter.

I was kind of surprised that the stock strings on my new guitar sounded so crappy compared to what I re-strung with. You would think that the manufacturer (or music store) would want to make a good impression when someone tries out their guitar. I suspect that they string with a lighter gauge than would sound best, to make the action feel easier. Not an issue for me: my fingers are plenty strong, and I rarely bend more than a semi-tone anyway.

Since strings can make such a big difference in tone, I would really like to see that information included when someone is discussing a setup that turns out to be really super sweet.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

If I'm not mistaken the D'addario Chromes are flatwounds? I haven't heard much from people using flatwounds on here before, perhaps you could explain why you prefer that kind of string?
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

Yeah, they want to make a good impression, but more importantly, manage costs.. I think they hope the dealers will do the work to make the sales by restringing and setting up. Plus you can always count on string changes to make an improvement. Most guitars ship with cheap strings that simply keep tension on the neck.. Then those guitars get played by 30-50 dirty handed guys at X music store and get rusty etc..

So yeah, I put on a fresh set of D'addario .10s whenever I get a guitar and usually always sounds better.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

i used blue steels for the longest time. then i went straight to pure nickel, then nickel-plated steel DR tight-fits. i couldn't believe how much warmth i was missing with the all steel strings, and the pure nickels had possibly the warmest clean tone i'd ever had. i don't like warm distortion though;)
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

strings are probably the most inexpensive way to change the tone. i've used cheap stainless steel sets, some GHS Progressives/ Boomers and Rotosound Yellows for a certain time when the shop ran out of daddarios. when i switched back to daddario exls, i swear i won't be buying any other string brand. i haven't changed my guitar strings for about 3 months and i get this terrible buzz from the high E. i changed my strings and had the guitar intonated and the buzz was gone.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

I'm really bad with changing strings. When I get a new guitar I always change them but then after that I let em sit around for a long time.

Just the other weekend I had a few packs of strings around and thought "I haven't changed strings in forever. I'm bored". Changed em out and it brought life back to my Wave like I couldn't imagine. I was bummed because lately I hadn't been feeling it with that one but after the string change it made all the difference in the world. (it had been probably over a year since I changed them)

Another happy accident was my KV2. I changed the strings on it, same guage and brand mind you, but once I was done restringing it, the action was crazy high! Like 3mm. Before the change it had been 2mm at the 12th fret and maybe a little more at the 24th but not much. So broke out the wrenches and made a truss rod adjustment. I've never had action on a guitar like this in my life. A dunlop tortex 1.14mm pick sticks between the strings and the 12th fret now. No buzz AT ALL. It's insane.

Also strangely enough my Bich which had always had 2mm at the 12th is about half a mm lower now after the change. Very bizarre.
 
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Re: What a difference strings make.

ibanezrocks said:
If I'm not mistaken the D'addario Chromes are flatwounds? I haven't heard much from people using flatwounds on here before, perhaps you could explain why you prefer that kind of string?
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There a couple reasons I like the flatwound chromes: For the stuff I record, I like a jazzy, mids-heavy tone to keep from interfering with some of the high end from keyboards, trumpet, etc. The flatwounds also produce much less left-hand fingering noise. I also really like the way they feel: Lube them up with some Finger Ease, and they're as silky smooth as a baby's butt.

I seem to recall that flat wounds were fairly popular back in the '70, but you don't see them around too much now.

I also prefer 11s vs. anything lighter for gauge. The lighter gauges always sound a little thin on the B and high-E strings, to me.

If you want an example of the tone I get with the chromes on my epi LP, your can check the intro to http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7464971
 
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Re: What a difference strings make.

I use 11's also and have for quite some time, but the flatwounds are really suited for Jazz. They have a nice bottom end to them that a traditional nickle strings don't have. Most rock & blues players prefer the feel and sound of nickle.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

I've used Ernie Ball strings for six years. They're pretty much right on the nose for me. I have a slight phobia of trying new ones. Once I put a set of Fender Bullet strings (the ones Fender says should go on a strat, which is BULL!) on my good strat and i noticed a really significant tone loss and within a day i didn't even want to play my guitar until I changed the strings back to EBs.

I'm sure those high end D'addario strings are great, i'm just really aprehensive about buying a pack of strings that cost 3 times what i usually get and not even like them.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

thespricket said:
.....
I'm sure those high end D'addario strings are great, i'm just really aprehensive about buying a pack of strings that cost 3 times what i usually get and not even like them.
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Price is an issue all right. I cringe whenever I lay out the cash for a new set. The chromes are also probably totally wrong for many genres and styles. The good news is that if you're good about keeping them cleaned off after playing, the seem to last a long time.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

Bludave said:
I use 11's also and have for quite some time, but the flatwounds are really suited for Jazz. They have a nice bottom end to them that a traditional nickle strings don't have. Most rock & blues players prefer the feel and sound of nickle.
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I will grant that flatwounds are not the way to go for blues/rock if you like a Billy Gibbons or SRV sound. If you amagine a blues sound that's about 85% B.B. King and 15% Pat Martino, the flatwounds will do that quite nicely.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

thespricket said:
I've used Ernie Ball strings for six years. They're pretty much right on the nose for me. I have a slight phobia of trying new ones. Once I put a set of Fender Bullet strings (the ones Fender says should go on a strat, which is BULL!) on my good strat and i noticed a really significant tone loss and within a day i didn't even want to play my guitar until I changed the strings back to EBs.

I'm sure those high end D'addario strings are great, i'm just really aprehensive about buying a pack of strings that cost 3 times what i usually get and not even like them.
Click to expand...

I used a set of Fender Bullet Strings once.
Once was enough, I was not impressed by them.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

I use the standard cheapo DAdarrio 11 gauge on all my guitars. they're inexpensive and I get predictable results from them.
But yeah, the first thing I do is change out the strings when I get a new guitar. I usually take it to my tech, he sets it up for my 11's and I'm happy.
I had a similar experience when I bought my PRS SE Soapbar II. It felt great and I bought it for what I thought was a good price and I had 30 days to return it. So I took it to my tech, had him do his thing and vualla! It was a totally different guitar, the tone was warmer, the sustain was vastly improved, not to mention the feel of my 11's made it feel like home.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

I used Blue Steel when I first started and I loved just how tight and crisp and heavy they sounded. Times got tight so I sucked it up and bought the D'Addario Xl's and was impressed by them. Then one day I was like, oh cool I've got a little extra cash kicking around I'll buy some blue steels.....I think I'm going back. Am I going crazy? Kind of weird, I'm going to give them another chance as I just had my 79 mockingbird strung with BS 11's.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

I like flats on a few of my archtops, and they sound killer on Fenders if you want the real deal 60's Nashville or western swing tone...I still have some old sets of Thomastik Enfelds around and those strings are amazing on certain guitars.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

jasona84 said:
I used Blue Steel when I first started and I loved just how tight and crisp and heavy they sounded. Times got tight so I sucked it up and bought the D'Addario Xl's and was impressed by them. Then one day I was like, oh cool I've got a little extra cash kicking around I'll buy some blue steels.....I think I'm going back. Am I going crazy? Kind of weird, I'm going to give them another chance as I just had my 79 mockingbird strung with BS 11's.
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I've always liked Dean Markley strings on my acoustics. I'm currently using the acoustic blue steels on my Ovation and on my brass body resonator.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

Hmm. Yes i tried the flatwounds - and they were nice. However I notice that every time I put a new set of addarios on, it makes a huge improvement. It's good to keep strings fresh.

I just settled on standard d'addario nickel strings (10-48) and they usually get the job done. For SRV sounds - i use 12-54, a rosewood one piece neck and 6100 frets. Now those you can really hammer around!! Not nearly as hard as SRV would though. THat guy was a monster. And I believe he played GHS.

I'm having a problem with my acoustic though. I have some bronze strings on it - but the neck just buzzes and is always uncomfortable and sharp to play. Then I take my friends' "Cort" cheapo, and it plays worlds better than my jap takamine... Haven't figured out what's up yet. My takamine has incredible high fret tones though - no buzz and sustain great for acoustic lead.
 
Re: What a difference strings make.

Yeah, guitars with no strings sound pretty lame.

Almost as lame as this joke...
 
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